Re: Assessment of science programs and courses

[rshotwel@ivy.tec.in.us (Allen Shotwell)]

We just suffered through this with the NC two years ago and are still
feeling the ramifications (and follow up visits). Our basic process, which
was institution wide, was to assess students in reading, writing and math
when they came in (using a national, standardized instrument from ACT),
assess them in these three areas when they graduated (using another
instrument from ACT) and to assess each major using a national, standardized
exam developed for their discipline. In the absensce of such an exam being
available, we used portfolios (I know. Sounds like a less than rigorous and
objective assessment to me too, but NC thinks its fine and dandy). NC liked
the plan, but dinged us on not having a fully developed system for
evaluating the results and making changes because of them.

Life would be easier if we could rid ourselves from assessment and
accreditation. 




> This is directed mainly at persons in the North Central Association region, who
> probably already know that the main thrust of NC visits is now assessment.  As
> chair of the Natural Science Division of our college, I have just returned from
> a two day meeting with the dean and other division chairs and find myself
> charged with spearheading the development of an assessment program for the
> science and math departments.  We are all pretty traditionalist in our
division,
> and I frankly don't have much of a clue as to the kind of thing that North
> Central wants;  we were pretty much assured that what is NOT acceptable in such
> a program is exams, including standardized exams, peer review of anything,
> external accreditation reviews.  What we have to do is to create a means of
> determining what we have actually taught our students that does not involve any
> of the above.  I would appreciate any suggestions that might be forthcoming
from
> anyone whose department / institution has already achieved North Central
> approval of its assessment program, particularly as it relates to the
sciences: 
> physics, chemistry, biology, math.  Any help anyone can provide will be
> sincerely appreciated.  
> Margaret J. Clarke
> College of St. Scholastica
> Duluth MN 55811      mclarke@css.edu
>  
R. Allen Shotwell
Chair, Science and Math
Ivy Tech State College
Terre Haute, IN